Fad Diets: Just Say No

Clients frequently ask me if they should try different fad diets to help with weight loss. My answer is always “no.” Here’s why…

Fad diets are typically too restrictive. Any diet that requires you to cut out whole food groups or only eat a certain type of food for a specific amount of time can cause you to miss out on important nutrients in your diet. Following these diets can also cause you to consume too much of one type of food which can have negative impacts on your cholesterol and blood sugar.

The biggest reason I do not support fad diets for weight loss is that they are typically not realistic or intended for you to follow long term. Following a fad diet may lead to weight loss, but once the diet has ended, the weight will come back. Our bodies are not designed to lose weight rapidly. Rapid weight loss can cause muscle loss, hair loss, nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and more!

Instead, I encourage you to focus on making realistic lifestyle changes over a longer period of time. This will not only lead to healthy weight loss but to a higher chance of maintaining a healthy weight long term. Try reducing added sugar and processed food in your diet and increasing resistance training and cardiovascular exercise. Every body is different and responds uniquely to nutrition and exercise depending on age, lifestyle and other factors. There is no one size fits all, so reach out to me to find a plan that works for YOU.